Royal Caribbean Tests New Dinner Menus on Symphony of the Seas
In an attempt to speed up main dining room dinner service and (if the company is being honest) pare down costs, Royal Caribbean is testing new dinner menus on the Symphony of the Seas. Depending on guest feedback, these menus, or some altered version of them, may eventually roll out fleet-wide.
What’s Changed?
For comparison purposes, you can see all the old menus (still being served on other Royal Caribbean ships) here:
Upon first glance, you’ll notice that the new menus (posted below) are shorter. On the old menus, there were a number of entree and dessert items that were offered every night: salmon, chicken, strip steak, and spaghetti bolognese plus five popular desserts. While some of these items still appear on certain nights, they are no longer all offered nightly.
You’ll also note a daily Indian entree and a vegan appetizer, entree, and dessert on the new menus. Prior to these new menus, there was a separate Indian and Vegan menu each night (provided upon request). This appears to be an attempt to eliminate those menus, providing less variety to vegetarians (who will now have to order the vegan entree) and vegans (who will only have one choice per category).
There is also a charge of $16.99 + 18% gratuity listed for ordering a second broiled lobster tail on night 6.
On the kids menu, you’ll note that the appetizer section has been eliminated. Keep in mind that kids can order from the regular menu too, but the kid friendly apps are gone.
Here are the new menus:
New Royal Caribbean Test Menus on Symphony of the Seas
New Royal Caribbean Menu on Symphony of the Seas Night 1
New Royal Caribbean Menu on Symphony of the Seas Night 2
New Royal Caribbean Menu on Symphony of the Seas Night 3
New Royal Caribbean Menu on Symphony of the Seas Night 4
New Royal Caribbean Menu on Symphony of the Seas Night 5
New Royal Caribbean Menu on Symphony of the Seas Night 6
New Royal Caribbean Menu on Symphony of the Seas Night 6
New Royal Caribbean Kids Menu on Symphony of the Seas
Early Reviews are in and…Most aren’t Happy
Early feedback seems to be overwhelmingly negative. The most common reaction I’ve seen is that Royal Caribbean has made deep cuts to menu offerings without anything positive in return. The quality of items and service speed have remained the same. And while these cuts are consistent with what we’re seeing across many lines, they may prompt some to remain a bit less loyal to Royal. Time will tell. And with that…
Class Dismissed.
Homework (10 points): Share your thoughts on these new menus to the comments. Bonus points if you’ve tried them on Symphony of the Seas!
And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog to receive new Cruising 101 content direct to your e-mail (scroll up to the top right if on a computer or keep scrolling down if on a mobile device) and follow Prof. Cruise on your favorite social media sites:
Twitter (@cruiseprof)
Instagram (@profcruise)
TikTok (profcruise)
Having been a loyal cruiser with R.C. for a number of years I find these new menus shocking. One of the things to look forward each night was the menu in the main dining room. Always plenty of choice served by excellent waiters and I find these new menus sadly lacking in all departments. It seems that R C are compromising on a number of things and sadly this is one more to add to the total.
I’m on the Symphony in February. They better offer more than 4 or 5 entres by then or I’ll spend more time on other cruise lines. I could care less about the lobster. The speed of the MDR is fine. I’ve done 8 cruises on Oasis class ships and over 30 cruises total (aproximately 210 MDR meals) and had a slow meal maybe once or twice. Don’t lie to me about why you are downsizing the menu. It’s an insult to my intelligence.
How long is this test going to last. The menu is too skimpy. My husband is a picky eater and if you don’t have classic to choose from… we will probably have to sail on an alternate ship. Desserts are crazy.. a chocolate chip cookie and ice cream.. what the heck
I pre-order my dinner the night before so that I could get my food with no salt, no dairy, not spicy, no tomato products and not fried. Most of the time, I would select a classic chicken breast or salmon. I am certain I will be able to continue to get my needs met. We are sailing this Saturday on Symphony. I have also ordered from the kids menu and from the vegan menu. Always wonderful.
We go on Symphony on Dec 10th, and my son was looking forward to being able to order chocolate cake every day for dessert. I have seen lots about the lobster, but no one is mentioning the cutbacks on dessert options. He isn’t exactly adventurous, so I am really hoping that this is over by the time we board the ship.
Yes, the cutbacks on dessert options are dramatic. I’d miss the chocolate cake too!
This is not a positive move. Many nights there is not an item I would want for the entree. The dining experience is a major factor in choosing a cruise line. I hope this experiment doesn’t last.
I agree! Hopefully the higher-ups at Royal are seeing all the negative feedback!
What disappointing news and menu. Looking at this menu , I know a lot of people that are picky and go to the classic part of the menu. I order from there often. If royal changes to these menus . I’ll be looking at another cruise line to travel on. Cruising is about the food. The entainerment. The atmosphere. I hope royal doesn’t take this new menu.
Your feedback echos what I’ve heard from many, many others. Hopefully Royal is paying attention and will scrap the cutbacks!
The new menu looks better! Less of the same offerings every day that frankly aren’t that special.
It’s nice to hear from someone who is happy with the new menus!
While I understand the uproar in changing the menu that has been the same for years, I don’t understand the complaints about costs or cutbacks. I like meals just like everyone else does and I realize that many go on cruises for the food…but honestly, look at the bigger picture in today’s economy. Your getting a hotel room, 3+meals a day, entertainment and amenities not to mention the views and adventure for under $200.00/day. Break that down….. if your were not on a cruise….Hotel $150/night….breakfast for 1..$15…lunch $20…mid-range dinner $35….snacks/coffee…$10… Broadway style show/or ice show…$50…all in = $280.00 and that is not to mention that it is basically double because so many people over eat or take more than they need. I get it, we all like to eat and I am a big person who enjoys eating….but come on, there are so many options and it’s on you to taylor your wants and meals to your own. A cruise is an incredible value and people get the benefits of less expensive meals because the kitchen is cooking for 4000+ people on Most ships. Set your expectations accordingly and you will have a wonderful time. If you want a huge dessert selection, go to Windjammers after main dining room. If you want a fine dining experience with specific menu options, consider a Specialty Dining option, yes isis more money, but it gets you what you want specifically and your expanding your overall experience. I have witnessed so many rude, self-entitled people on cruises who are ultimately the root cause for why changes are being made. Enjoy life and make the most of where you are and relax, after all, your on vacation. And lastly….I understand that everyone saved and planned for months if not years for their cruise and I recognize that your hard earned money is valuable to you….and you are one of 4000 that feel the same way…. So respect everyone who has saved like you and respect everyone who is working hard to serve your meals.
I was curious about the changes when I heard about this, thanks for posting! I would actually be pretty excited about this menu for myself. I would have a really hard time deciding many nights because so much sounds good to me. But, thinking of others in my family…I think it would be a good idea to shake up the menu, but keep a classic section as an option, too. I’ll be interested to see how this goes.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Hopefully they’ll come to a final menu that will appeal to most people with a good mix of new items and classics.
They seem to be adding a lot of fried, buttery,and spicy food.
Not safe for many stomachs.
Many if us need the daily plain options.
I am co concerned about my up and coming cruise.
They seem to be adding a lot of fried, buttery,and spicy food.
Not safe for many stomachs.
Many if us need the daily plain options.
I am co concerned about my up andcoming cruise.
First time posting.
Thanks for your comment! I’ve heard that same thing from a lot of people. Hopefully Royal is listening and will take your concerns into account before changing the menus fleet-wide.
They do not care about our concerns and have already changed the menu fleet wide starting January 1st…..Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
The final version of the menu won’t be released until sometime in January. I fear it may be pretty close to the test menu on Symphony, but hopefully they’ve taken into consideration the feedback and added back a few of the “every day” choices back from the current menu. We’ll see…
I will miss the creme brulee.
We are princess cruisers with 17 cruises. We thought we should give other cruise lines a try…..BIG MISTAKE that menu is disgusting and i would not eat any of it. I guess we will be staying princess regulars.
Just returned from a Symphony cruise. If a reason to tighten up the menu was to improve food quality and service they have failed miserably. Service is still excellent. Food is average at best. French Onion soup cheese is like leather and broth is bland, lobster tail is mushy and extremely small, corn is pasty, Marsala sauce is tasteless, chocolate chip cookie baked in a cup with ice cream couldn’t be blasted out. Steak was good but not excellent.
On the largest cruise ships in the world, with beautiful dining rooms, food should be always excellent and their premium restaurants should be exquisite. Otherwise stop promoting food quality in advertising.
They should do away with formal nights or enforce a dress code because now it is a farce. Ranges from tee shirt and shorts to suits. Why bother?
That’s disappointing to hear. Thanks for sharing your experience. Hopefully things will improve if enough people speak out.